CN109156001B

CN109156001B - Resource block allocation for uplink communications

Info

Publication number: CN109156001B
Application number: CN201780013737.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 柳光
Original assignee: JRD Communication Shenzhen Ltd
Current assignee: JRD Communication Shenzhen Ltd
Priority date: 2016-04-01
Filing date: 2017-03-13
Publication date: 2023-04-04
Anticipated expiration: 2037-03-13
Also published as: WO2017166998A1; CN109156001A; GB2548922A; GB2548922B

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for allocating resource blocks to a plurality of user equipments transmitting uplink data to a base station in a telecommunications network over a frequency bandwidth of an unlicensed radio spectrum. The frequency bandwidth includes a plurality of contiguous resource blocks spanning the frequency bandwidth. The base station is configured to receive from each user equipment a request representing data indicating the number of resource blocks required for each user equipment to transmit uplink data; each user equipment is allocated a set of resource blocks for uplink transmission based on a predefined set of interlaces having a plurality of available resource blocks, wherein each interlace in the predefined set of interlaces defines a unique plurality of non-contiguous resource blocks selected from a plurality of contiguous resource blocks.

Description

Resource block allocation for uplink communications

Technical Field

Embodiments or examples of the invention generally relate to allocating Resource Blocks (RBs) for uplink transmissions in a telecommunications network using unlicensed radio spectrum. And more particularly, to allocating RBs based on one or more interlaces (interlaces) with available RBs allocated to each of a plurality of User Equipments (UEs) served by a base station, wherein the user equipments use the allocated RBs for transmitting uplink data to the base station.

Background

Current telecommunications networks operate using licensed wireless spectrum, where multiple accesses to communication resources of the licensed wireless spectrum are tightly controlled. Each user of the network is provided with substantially a "slice" of the spectrum using different multiple access techniques, by way of example only and not limitation, frequency division multiplexing, time division multiplexing, code division multiplexing, and space division multiplexing, or a combination of one or more of these techniques. Even if these technologies are combined, with the popularity of mobile telecommunications, the capacity of current and future telecommunications networks remains very limited, especially when licensed wireless spectrum is used.

The use of unlicensed radio spectrum may be used by telecommunications network operators to increase or supplement the capacity of their telecommunications networks. For example, telecommunications networks based on the Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard/LTE-advanced standard have an enhanced downlink that uses a mechanism called Licensed-Assisted-Access (LAA) to operate in unlicensed spectrum, such as the 5GHz Wi-Fi radio spectrum, which may increase the downlink capacity of current networks operating in Licensed radio spectrum. This enables operation of the LTE-based telecommunications network in the 5GHz unlicensed spectrum for low-power secondary cells that adjust power boundaries based on regions using carrier aggregation.

However, the network operator is not allowed to access or use the unlicensed spectrum without restriction, as the network operator must share the unlicensed spectrum with other wireless devices, by way of example only, but not limitation, wi-Fi access points and terminals, medical devices, utility meters, wireless machine-to-machine devices, internet of things devices, and the like. As such, a compromise has been reached between the network operator and the wireless spectrum regulatory body regarding the use of unlicensed spectrum. In order to use unlicensed spectrum, network operators must comply with different telecommunications regulations.

At present, ETSI EN 301 893V1.7.2 (2014-07) "Broadband Radio Access Networks (BRAN); a 5GHz high performance RLAN; there are two main provisions in parts 4.3 and 4.4 of the coordinated EN coverage requirements of the r and tte Directive "draft standard that each Uplink (UL) wireless communication unit should adhere to when using unlicensed spectrum. Clause 1 of section 4.3 of ETSI EN 301 893v1.7.2 (2014-07) states that the output signal of each wireless communication unit must be able to occupy at least 80% of the entire bandwidth. Even when 2 RBs are allocated to only one terminal, they must have a sufficient distance from each other, for example, between one RB located at the left end of the system bandwidth and another RB located at the right end, but currently they may be located anywhere adjacent to each other.

The 2 nd regulation in section 4.4 of ETSI EN 301 893v1.7.2 (2014-07) describes that the power density per MHz is limited to a certain level measured in dBm (e.g. 10 dBm), which means that the user equipment cannot use full power (e.g. 23 dBm) even if only one RB (180 KHz) needs to be transmitted. In order to use more power, it is desirable that the user equipment allocate subcarriers in frequencies in a manner mapped to as many "MHz" as possible.

Although the following describes, by way of example only, but not limitation, the use of Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), single-carrier transmitters/receivers and multi-carrier transmitters/receivers based on OFDM and other carrier formats, the skilled person will appreciate that the following may be applied not only to OFDMA systems or other related systems, but also to other communication systems, receivers and transmitters, such as, by way of example only, but not limitation, code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) systems, time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) systems, any other Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) systems, or Space Division Multiple Access (SDMA) systems, or any other suitable communication system or combination thereof.

For LAA with 20MHz bandwidth, there have been several proposals to allocate only a limited set of RB mapping or interleaving models that meet the above specifications, with a total of 100 RBs allocated per user equipment. Each RB mapping or interleaving model corresponds to a particular number of RBs that may be allocated to a user device. When the number of RBs required by the user equipment is not one of these specific numbers, padding symbols (bits) are added until the interlace model is fully occupied by the user equipment. When each user equipment is allocated RBs, the result is reduced flexibility, which in turn affects the uplink RB allocation efficiency, as well as the possible capacity of the uplink of the unlicensed spectrum. Therefore, there is a need to improve RB allocation efficiency and uplink capacity of a telecommunication network.

Disclosure of Invention

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for allocating RBs to a plurality of user equipments transmitting uplink data to a base station in a telecommunications network over a frequency bandwidth of an unlicensed radio spectrum. The frequency bandwidth includes a plurality of consecutive RBs spanning the frequency bandwidth. The base station is configured to receive a request from each user equipment, the request representing data indicating a number of RBs required for each user equipment to transmit uplink data; each user equipment is allocated a set of resource blocks for uplink transmission based on a predefined set of interlaces having a plurality of available resource blocks, wherein each interlace in the predefined set of interlaces defines a unique plurality of non-contiguous resource blocks selected from a plurality of contiguous resource blocks. The base station allocating the RB set to each user equipment further includes: allocating one or more full interlaces in the predefined set of interlaces to the user equipment for uplink transmission when the number of resource blocks needed for uplink transmission is greater than or equal to the total number of non-contiguous resource blocks for the one or more interlaces. A total number of non-contiguous resource blocks in each of the one or more interlaces is available. For any other resource blocks needed for uplink data transmission by the user equipment, the base station allocates a partial interlace to the user equipment when the number of other resource blocks needed for uplink transmission is less than the number of available non-contiguous resource blocks for an interlace. The partial interlaces define a subset of available resource blocks for an interlace in the predefined interlace set. When the total number of resource blocks required for uplink transmission is less than the total number of available non-contiguous resource blocks for an interlace, the base station allocates a partial interlace to the user equipment; and transmitting a resource information message to each user equipment, wherein the resource information message comprises data representative of a set of resource blocks allocated to the user equipment. The user equipment receives the resource information message and assigns (assign) an RB for uplink transmission accordingly.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of allocating RBs to a plurality of user equipments transmitting uplink data to a base station over a frequency bandwidth of an unlicensed radio spectrum, wherein the frequency bandwidth comprises a plurality of consecutive resource blocks spanning the frequency bandwidth, the method being performed by the base station, comprising: receiving a request from each user equipment, the request representing data indicating a number of resource blocks required for each user equipment to transmit uplink data; allocating a set of resource blocks to each user equipment for uplink transmission based on a predefined set of interlaces having a plurality of available resource blocks, wherein each interlace in the predefined set of interlaces defines a unique plurality of non-contiguous resource blocks selected from a plurality of contiguous resource blocks, wherein allocating the set of resource blocks to each user equipment further comprises: allocating one or more full interlaces in the predefined set of interlaces to a user equipment when a number of resource blocks needed for uplink transmission is greater than or equal to a total number of non-contiguous resource blocks for one or more interlaces, wherein the total number of non-contiguous resource blocks in each of the one or more interlaces is available; for any other resource blocks needed for uplink data transmission by the user equipment, allocating a partial interlace to the user equipment when the number of other resource blocks needed for uplink transmission is less than the number of available non-contiguous resource blocks for an interlace, wherein the partial interlace defines a subset of available resource blocks for an interlace in the predefined set of interlaces; and allocating a partial interlace to the user equipment when a total number of resource blocks required for uplink transmission is less than a total number of available non-contiguous resource blocks for an interlace; and transmitting a resource information message to each user equipment, wherein the resource information message comprises data representative of the set of resource blocks allocated to the respective user equipment.

As an option, when one or more full interlaces are allocated to the user equipment, allocating partial interlaces to the user equipment for any other resource blocks required for uplink data transmission by the user equipment further comprises: allocating a plurality of other resource blocks from a partially staggered subset of available resource blocks, wherein each resource block in the subset of available resource blocks comprises the partially staggered plurality of available resource blocks closest to near a center of the frequency bandwidth.

Optionally, when the partial interlaces are allocated to the user equipments and the total number of resource blocks needed for uplink transmission is less than the total number of available non-contiguous resource blocks for an interlace, allocating the partial interlaces further comprises: allocating a plurality of resource blocks required for user equipment uplink transmission from a partially staggered subset of available RBs, wherein each RB in the subset of available RBs comprises a partially staggered plurality of available RBs furthest from near a center of the frequency bandwidth.

As another option, the subset of available RBs comprises two available RBs that are partially staggered, wherein the two available RBs span at least 80% of the frequency bandwidth of the unlicensed spectrum. Optionally, the plurality of non-contiguous RBs of each interlace in the predefined set of interlaces spans at least 80% of the frequency bandwidth. As another option, the predefined set of interlaces is allocated in a predefined order that maximizes the output transmission power of each user equipment.

Optionally, the plurality of contiguous RBs are evenly divided into a set of contiguous RB groups, each group including a same number, nc, of contiguous RBs, wherein the plurality of non-contiguous RBs defined by each predefined interlace includes one RB selected from a same RB location in each RB group, wherein the plurality of predefined interlaces are ordered such that a first interlace provides NT/Nc non-contiguous RB clusters, a second interlace provides 2NT/Nc non-contiguous RB clusters when combined with the first interlace, and a subsequent interlace provides 2NT/Nc non-contiguous RB clusters when combined with a previously combined interlace, wherein a penultimate predefined interlace in the ordered set of predefined interlaces provides NT/Nc non-contiguous RB clusters when combined with all previously combined interlaces; wherein the last predefined interlace in the ordered set of predefined interlaces, when combined with all previously combined interlaces, provides a cluster of RBs; and allocating one or more interlaces or partial interlaces with a plurality of available RBs according to a predefined order.

As an option, the plurality of consecutive RBs are divided into sets of consecutive RB groups, each set in a first set of consecutive RB groups comprising the same number Nc of consecutive RBs, another set of RB groups comprising a second number Nc1<Nc consecutive RBs, wherein a plurality of non-consecutive RBs defined by Nc1 predefined interleaved first set are selected from the same RB position in each of the first set of consecutive groups of RBsOne RB and a second group of RBs, wherein a plurality of non-contiguous RBs defined by each of the remaining set of Nc-Nc1 predefined interlaces includes one RB selected from the same RB position in each of the first set of contiguous groups of RBs, wherein the plurality of predefined interlaces are ordered such that the first interlace provides a floor (N) _T Nc) +1 non-contiguous RB clusters, the second interlace providing 2 floor (N) when combined with the first interlace _T Nc) +1 or 2 floor (N) _T /Nc) non-contiguous RB clusters, and the plurality of subsequent interlaces, when combined with the plurality of previously combined interlaces, provide 2-floor (N) _T Nc) +1 or 2 floor (N) _T /Nc) non-contiguous RB clusters, wherein a penultimate predefined interlace in the ordered set of predefined interlaces provides a floor (N) when combined with all previously combined interlaces _T Nc) +1 non-contiguous RB clusters, wherein the last predefined interlace in the ordered set of predefined interlaces, when combined with all previously combined interlaces, provides one RB cluster; and allocating one or more interlaces or partial interlaces with a plurality of available RBs according to a predefined order.

As an option, the resource information message includes data representing a set of RBs allocated to the user equipment, the data representing the set of RBs further including data representing an interlace index identifying a first interlace allocated to the user equipment based on a predefined order and a number of interlaces allocated to the user equipment. As another option, the resource information message further includes data representing an interlace index identifying one or more partial interlaces allocated to the user equipment based on the predefined order and whether the partial interlaces are the first interlace or the last interlace allocated to the user equipment.

Optionally, the resource information message of each user equipment further includes data in the following group: data identifying an interlace identifier of a first interlace assigned to the user equipment; data identifying a number of interlaces assigned to the user equipment; identifying whether a first interlace assigned to the user equipment is partially interlaced data; data identifying whether a partial interlace other than the first interlace has been allocated to the user equipment; and identifying data from any partially interleaved set of RBs allocated to the user equipment.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of transmitting uplink data from a user equipment to a base station in a telecommunications network over a frequency bandwidth of an unlicensed radio spectrum, the frequency bandwidth comprising a plurality of consecutive RBs spanning the frequency bandwidth, the method comprising: transmitting a request to the base station, the request indicating data indicating the number of RBs required for the user equipment to transmit uplink data; receiving a resource information message from the base station, the resource information message including data representing a set of RBs allocated to a user equipment for transmission of uplink data, data representing a set of RBs allocated based on one or more interlaces in a predefined set of interlaces having a plurality of available RBs that have been allocated by the base station to the user equipment for uplink transmission, each interlace in the predefined set of interlaces defining a unique plurality of non-contiguous RBs selected from a plurality of contiguous RBs; when the number of RBs required for uplink transmission is greater than or equal to the total number of non-contiguous RBs for one or more interlaces, assigning a plurality of RBs from the plurality of contiguous RBs based on one or more complete interlaces in a predefined set of interlaces allocated for uplink transmission, wherein the total number of non-contiguous RBs for each of the one or more interlaces is available; for any other resource blocks needed for uplink data transmission by the user equipment, assigning one or more other RBs from the plurality of contiguous RBs based on a partial interlace allocated to the user equipment when a number of other resource blocks needed for uplink transmission is less than a number of available non-contiguous resource blocks for an interlace, wherein the partial interlace defines a subset of available resource blocks for an interlace in the predefined set of interlaces; assigning a plurality of RBs from a plurality of consecutive RBs based on a partial interlace allocated to a user equipment when a total number of resource blocks required for uplink transmission is less than a total number of available non-consecutive resource blocks for an interlace; and transmitting uplink data to the base station based on the assigned plurality of RBs.

As an option, when one or more full interlaces are allocated to the user device, assigning one or more other RBs from the plurality of consecutive RBs based on the partial interlaces further comprises, for any other resource blocks needed for uplink data transmission by the user device: assigning a plurality of other resource blocks from a partially staggered subset of available resource blocks, wherein each resource block in the subset of available resource blocks comprises a plurality of available resource blocks that are closest to the partial stagger near a center of the frequency bandwidth.

Optionally, when the partial interlaces are allocated to the user equipment and the total number of resource blocks needed for uplink transmission is less than the total number of available non-contiguous resource blocks for an interlace, assigning the plurality of RBs from the plurality of contiguous RBs based on the partial interlaces further comprises: assigning a plurality of resource blocks required for user equipment uplink transmission from a partially staggered subset of available RBs, wherein each RB in the subset of available RBs comprises a partially staggered plurality of available RBs furthest from near a center of the frequency bandwidth.

As another option, the subset of available RBs comprises two available RBs that are partially staggered, wherein the two available RBs span at least 80% of the frequency bandwidth of the unlicensed spectrum. Optionally, the plurality of non-contiguous RBs per interlace in the predefined interlace set span at least 80% of the frequency bandwidth.

As an option, the resource information message includes data representing a set of RBs allocated to the user equipment, the data representing the set of RBs further including data representing an interlace index identifying a first interlace allocated to the user equipment based on a predefined order and a number of interlaces allocated to the user equipment. Optionally, the resource information message further comprises data representing an interlace index identifying one or more partial interlaces allocated to the user equipment based on the predefined order and whether the partial interlaces are the first interlace or the last interlace allocated to the user equipment.

As another option, the resource information message of each user equipment further comprises data in the group of: data identifying an interlace identifier of a first interlace assigned to the user equipment; data identifying a number of interlaces assigned to the user equipment; identifying whether a first interlace assigned to the user equipment is partially interlaced data; data identifying whether a partial interlace other than the first interlace has been allocated to the user equipment; and identifying data from any partially interleaved set of RBs allocated to the user equipment.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a user equipment device comprising a processor, a memory unit and a communication interface, wherein the processor unit, memory unit, communication interface are configured to perform the method or as described herein.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a base station apparatus comprising a processor, a memory unit, and a communication interface, wherein the processor unit, the memory unit, the communication interface are configured to perform the method or as described herein.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a telecommunications network comprising a plurality of user equipment configured as described by or as described herein, a plurality of base stations configured as described by or as described herein, wherein each base station is configured to communicate with one or more of the plurality of user equipment.

The methods described herein may be performed by software in machine-readable form on a tangible storage medium or computer-readable medium, e.g., in the form of a computer program comprising computer program code means adapted to perform all the steps of any of the methods described herein when the program is run on a computer and the computer program is implemented on a computer-readable medium. Tangible (or non-transitory) storage media include disks, thumb drives, memory cards, etc., and do not include propagated signals. The software may be adapted for execution on a parallel processor or a serial processor such that the steps of the method may be performed in any suitable order, or simultaneously. For example, in another further aspect of the invention, a computer-readable medium is provided that includes a computer program, program code, or instructions stored thereon that, when executed on a processor, cause the processor to perform a method of allocating RBs to each of a plurality of user equipments for transmitting uplink data to a base station using unlicensed radio spectrum and/or a method as described herein. In yet another aspect of the present invention, a computer readable medium is provided, comprising a computer program, program code, or instructions stored thereon, which when executed on a processor, causes the processor to perform a method of transmitting uplink data from a user equipment to a base station using unlicensed radio spectrum and/or a method as described herein.

This confirms that the firmware and software can be valuable, separately tradable commodities. It is intended to include software, which runs on or controls "random" or standard hardware, to carry out the desired functions. It is also intended to include software, such as Hardware Description Language (HDL) software, which "describes" or defines the configuration of the hardware used to design silicon chips or to configure general purpose programmable chips to perform desired functions.

It will be apparent to the skilled person that the preferred features may be combined as appropriate and in any aspect of the invention.

Drawings

Embodiments of the invention are described below by way of example and not limitation with reference to the following figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a telecommunications network;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an example RB structure for the uplink and/or downlink of the telecommunications network of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3a is a schematic diagram of an example predefined interlace set;

FIG. 3b is a schematic diagram of an example conventional interleaving-based solution using padding symbols based on the predefined interleaving of FIG. 3 a;

FIG. 4a is a flow chart of an example flow of allocating RBs according to the present invention;

FIG. 4b is a flowchart of an example procedure for using scheduled RBs according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of allocating RBs according to the present invention;

fig. 6 is a schematic view illustrating another example of allocating RBs according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example allocation model used in allocating RBs according to the present invention;

fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of allocating RBs according to the present invention;

FIGS. 9a and 9b are tables showing performance results comparing a conventional interleaving-based solution with a partial interleaving allocation scheme according to the present invention;

fig. 10 is a schematic diagram of a base station apparatus for implementing one or more aspects or functions of the present invention; and

fig. 11 is a schematic diagram of a user device for implementing one or more aspects or functions of the present invention.

The same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to similar features.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present invention are described below by way of example only. These examples represent the best modes of carrying out the invention and are presently known to the applicant, although they are not the only modes of carrying out the invention. The description sets forth the functions of the example and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the example. However, the same or equivalent functions and operational flows may be accomplished by different examples.

The inventors have found that it is possible to improve the allocation of communication resources in relation to the frequency bandwidth of unlicensed radio spectrum of a telecommunications network such that end user equipment devices meet the requirements of a standard, specifying unlicensed radio spectrum, while providing an improvement in network capacity for the frequency bandwidth of the unlicensed radio spectrum of a plurality of users. The user device may comprise or represent any portable computing device for communication. Examples of user devices used in some embodiments of the described apparatus, methods, and systems may be wired or wireless devices, e.g., mobile devices, mobile phones, terminals, smart phones, portable computing devices such as laptops, handheld devices, tablets, netbooks, personal digital assistants, music players, and other computing devices capable of wired or wireless communication.

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a telecommunications network 100 that includes a telecommunications infrastructure 102 (e.g., telecommunications infrastructure 102) and a plurality of telecommunications network nodes, i.e., 104A-104M, having cells 106A-106M for serving a plurality of user equipment. A plurality of communication network nodes 104A-104M are connected to the telecommunications infrastructure 102 by links. These links may be wired or wireless (e.g., wireless communication links, optical fibers, etc.). The telecommunications infrastructure 102 may include one or more core networks that may communicate with one or more radio access networks that include a plurality of network nodes 104A-104M.

In the present example, the network nodes 104A-104M are shown as base stations, which may be enodebs (enbs) in an LTE advanced telecommunications network by way of example only and not limitation. Each of the plurality of network nodes 104A-104M (e.g., base stations) has a footprint (footprint), schematically represented in fig. 1 as a respective hexagonal cell 106A-106M, for serving one or more of the user devices 108A-108L. The user devices 108A-108L can receive services, such as voice, video, audio, and other services, from the telecommunications network 100.

The telecommunications network 100 may include or represent any one or more communication networks for communication between the user devices 108A-108L and other devices, content sources, or servers connected to the telecommunications network 100. The telecommunications infrastructure 102 may also include or represent any one or more communication networks, one or more network nodes, entities, elements, application servers, base stations, or other network devices linked, coupled, or connected to form the telecommunications network 100. The couplings or links between network nodes may be wired or wireless (e.g., wireless communication links, optical fibers, etc.). The telecommunications network 100 and the telecommunications infrastructure 102 may comprise any suitable combination of a core network and a radio access network, including network nodes or entities, base stations, access points, etc., that enable communication between the user devices 108A-108L, the network nodes 104A-104M of the telecommunications network 100 and the telecommunications infrastructure 102, content sources, and/or other devices connected to the network 100.

Examples of the telecommunication network 100 used in some embodiments of the described apparatus, methods and systems may be at least one communication network or a combination thereof, including, but not limited to, one or more wired and/or wireless telecommunication networks, one or more core networks, one or more radio Access networks, one or more computer networks, one or more data communication networks, the Internet, a telephone network, a wireless network such as WiMAX, WLAN, based solely on the IEEE 802.11 standard by way of example, and/or a Wi-Fi network, or an Internet Protocol (IP) network, a packet switched network or an enhanced packet switched network, an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network, or a communication network based on wireless, cellular or satellite technology, such as a Mobile network, a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), a GPRS network, a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), CDMA or LTE third generation communication networks, or any third generation communication networks, beyond the fourth generation, and beyond the like.

In the example of fig. 1, the telecommunications network may be, by way of example only and not limitation, an LTE/LTE-advanced communication network using Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) technology for downlink and uplink channels. The downlink may include one or more communication channels for transmitting data from one or more base stations 104A-104M to one or more user devices 108A-108L. In general, a downlink channel is a communication channel used for transmitting data, e.g., from the base station 104A to the user equipment 108A. In an LTE/LTE-advanced communication network, a multiple access method used in a downlink may be Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA).

The uplink includes one or more communication channels for transmitting data from one or more user devices 108A-108L to one or more base stations 104A-104M. The uplink of LTE/LTE-advanced may use a single-carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) mode similar to OFDMA. Typically, the uplink channel is a communication channel used for transmitting data, e.g., from the user equipment 108A to the base station 108A. In OFDM, multi-carrier transmission is used to carry (carry) data in the form of OFDM symbols on both uplink and downlink channels. For example, an uplink channel or a downlink channel between the user equipment 108A and the base station 104A may include or represent one or more narrowband carriers, where each narrowband carrier further includes a plurality of narrowband sub-carriers. This is called multicarrier transmission. Each narrowband subcarrier is used to transmit data in the form of an OFDM symbol.

Both the uplink and downlink for LTE/LTE-advanced networks are divided into radio frames (e.g., each frame may be 10ms in length), where each frame may be divided into multiple subframes. For example, each frame may include 10 equal-length subframes, where each subframe is comprised of multiple slots (e.g., 2 slots) for transmitting data. In addition to a slot, a subframe may include several additional special fields or OFDM symbols, which may include, by way of example only, downlink synchronization symbols, broadcast symbols, and/or uplink reference symbols. For OFDMA, the smallest resource unit or element in the time domain is an OFDM symbol for the downlink and an SC-FDMA symbol for the uplink.

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a communication resource grid 200 in the frequency and time domain of a time slot 202 of a radio frame when the telecommunication network 100 described in connection with fig. 1 is an LTE/LTE-advanced network. The frequency domain is on the y-axis of communication resource grid 200 and the time domain is on the x-axis of communication resource grid 200. The communication resource grid 200 of time slot 202 may represent one carrier of a plurality of carriers in the frequency domain. The communication resource grid 200 includes a plurality of RBs, where each RB204 can be associated with a particular carrier frequency of a plurality of carriers.

Each carrier for uplink communications may be divided into a number N _RB Wherein each RB204 has a plurality of subcarriers, e.g., each RB204 may have a number N of RBs 204 _SC Wherein each subcarrier may be an offset from a carrier frequency associated with RB 204. Each carrier includes N associated with one or more RBs 204 _RB x N _SC A subcarrier (i.e., a plurality of subcarriers). Each RB204 may be composed of a subset of multiple subcarriers in the frequency domain, e.g., N _SC Sub-carriers, and a plurality of symbols, e.g., N, on time slot 202 _SYMB A symbol, wherein each symbol has a symbol period.

RB204 defines N _SC x N _SYMB Frequency and time domains of resource elements 206A grid of (2). For RB204, resource element 206 corresponds to N _SC A particular subcarrier of the subcarriers and N on time slot 202 _SYMB A particular symbol of the plurality of symbols. The communication resources that may be allocated and allocated to the user equipment may be based on the communication resource grid 200 and are typically allocated in the form of one or more RBs/subcarriers associated with the respective carriers. The communication resources may be described in terms of one or more carriers, one or more subcarriers, and/or one or more RBs.

The communication resource grid 200 for the downlink and uplink is actually the same type of structure, with some nuances. For example, the downlink for LTE/LTE-advanced networks typically uses OFDM multiple access, so the downlink may use OFDM symbols in the time domain. The uplink for LTE-advanced networks typically uses SC-FDMA to access the uplink, so SC-FDMA symbols can be used in the time domain. Although this is the case for current LTE/LTE-advanced networks, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that any type of OFDM/SC-FDMA type symbols or the like may be used in the uplink.

Referring to fig. 1 and 2, generally, in an LTE network, communication resources may be allocated to user devices 108A-108L by base stations 104A-104M (e.g., enbs) in the form of carrier lists and/or RBs 204. For example, in current LTE networks, the smallest dimensional unit for allocating resources in the frequency domain is an RB with a bandwidth of 180kHz, which corresponds to N _SC =12 sub-carriers, each sub-carrier being 15kHz offset from the carrier frequency associated with the RB. However, while the LTE network may allocate communication resources in the form of a carrier list or number of one or more RBs, those skilled in the art will appreciate that communication resources may be allocated in the form of one or more carriers, one or more RBs, one or more subcarriers, and/or in the future in the form of one or more resource elements, or any combination thereof.

As an example, for LAA with unlicensed spectrum with a20 MHz bandwidth, where each RB is 180kHz, a total of 100 RBs may be allocated by the base station to each user equipment. There have been several proposals to allocate a limited set of RB mappings, or so-called interleaving, that meet the two main specifications of section 4.3 and section 4.4 of ETSI EN 301 893v1.7.2 (2014-07) described above. Each RB map or interlace corresponds to a particular number of RBs that may be allocated to a user device. When the number of RBs required by the user equipment is not one of these specific numbers, padding symbols may be added until the interlace is completely occupied by the user equipment.

One interlace may be defined as a plurality of non-contiguous RBs selected from a plurality of contiguous RBs spanning an available frequency bandwidth of an unlicensed radio spectrum. The interleaving may be a predefined set of RBs selected to span the frequency bandwidth. Non-contiguous RBs may be selected in a manner that spans at least 80% of the available frequency bandwidth of the unlicensed radio spectrum and/or meets the first main specification of part 4.3 of ETSI EN 301 893v1.7.2 (2014-07) described above. There may be a plurality of predefined interlaces, where each interlace defines a different plurality of non-contiguous RBs or a different set of RBs selected from the plurality of contiguous RBs. In general, each interleaved set of RBs is different from each other interleaved set of RBs. That is, each interlace may define a unique plurality of non-contiguous RBs, or a unique set of RBs, from a plurality of contiguous RBs spanning a frequency bandwidth.

Each interlace in the predefined set of interlaces can have a unique interlace identifier that can be used by the base station when allocating RBs to user equipment for uplink transmission over the frequency bandwidth of the unlicensed spectrum. If both the base station and the user equipment know a predefined interlace set and a corresponding interlace identifier, the base station may allocate the RB set by allocating interlaces or one or more interlaces to the user equipment using the corresponding interlace identifier, rather than the exact RB location within the plurality of consecutive RBs. Thus, each allocated interlace defines a plurality of non-contiguous RBs that the user equipment may use for its uplink transmission.

FIG. 3a is a block diagram illustrating an example predefined interlace set 300 or frequency bandwidth F of an unlicensed wireless spectrum _BW The schematic diagram used above, which can assist the user equipment to meet two specified requirements and assist each user equipment to effectively use more inputAnd (6) outputting power. The frequency bandwidth includes a plurality of consecutive RBs 204aa-204jp spanning the frequency bandwidth, wherein each RB has an RB position or index of 0<＝j<＝N _T In which N is _T Is the total number of RBs in a plurality of consecutive RBs, and N _T >1. There may be Nc predefined interlaces, where 0<Nc<N _T Where each interlace is defined by an interlace identifier, denoted by # i, and 0<＝i<And Nc. In this example, interlace identification # i defines a plurality of non-contiguous RBs by selecting a set of RBs from a plurality of contiguous RBs using RB positions or RB indices defined by i, i + Nc, i +2 x Nc, …, i + (N-1) x Nc, where N = floor (N-1) _T Nc), floor is an evaluation function, i.e. the floor function is used to pair N _T Nc, and is evaluated at rem (N) _T /Nc) = 0. When rem (N) _T /Nc)>0, the interlace identifier # i may define a plurality of non-contiguous RBs by selecting an RB set from among a plurality of contiguous RBs using an RB position or an RB index defined by: a) i, i + Nc, i + 2Nc, …, i + (N-1) Nc and i + N Nc, where N = floor (N) _T Nc) and i<rem(N _T Nc); or b) when i>＝rem(N _T /Nc), i, i + Nc, i + 2Nc, …, i + (n-1) × Nc. Each interlace is a predefined set of RBs selected to span a frequency bandwidth, wherein each set of RBs is unique relative to other sets of RBs defined by other interlaces. In addition to the selected RB locations described above, each set of RBs defined by each interlace may also be adjusted or automatically modified or defined based on design considerations.

For simplicity, by way of example only and not limitation, FIG. 3a illustrates an example predefined interlace set 300, where N is _T =100 and Nc =10. Although the example herein uses N _T =100 and Nc =10, but this is for simplicity and by way of example only, the skilled person will understand that as long as 0 is present<Nc<N _T Any number may be used for N _T And Nc. In this example, since N _T =100 and Nc =10, the predefined interleaved set of the present example may total N _T Is equally divided or partitioned into a number Nc of consecutive RB groups 302a-302p (e.g., groups 1-9) spanning a frequency bandwidthF _BW . In this example, each RB group 302a-302p has the same number Nc of RBs, and the RB mapping or number of non-contiguous RBs defined by each interlace may be based on RB position or index in each RB group 302a-302p within Nc RBs that may be allocated to each user device from each RB group when an interlace is allocated to that user device.

As described, each interlace # i (i =0,1,2, …, (Nc-1) = 9) defines an RB map (unique set of RBs) or a plurality of non-contiguous RBs by selecting an RB at RB position or index i, i +10, i +20, …, i +90 from a plurality of contiguous RBs. Alternatively, each interlace selects a plurality of non-contiguous RBs by selecting an RB located at RB position i from each of a plurality of RB groups 302a-302p over the frequency bandwidth. In this example, each interlace defines N assigned to each user equipment _T Nc RB. Thus, the base station can be connected with N _T And when integer multiples of RB of/Nc are allocated to the user equipment, selecting and allocating more than one interlace to the user equipment.

Thus, when interlace #0 (i = 0) is selected for allocation to a user device, the plurality of non-contiguous RBs of interlace #0 include RBs at RB positions 204aa,204ab,204ac, …,204ap (or RBs at RB position or

index

0,10,20, …, 90). Similarly, when interlace #5 (i = 5) is selected for allocation to user equipment, the plurality of non-contiguous RBs of interlace #5 include RBs at RB positions 204fa,204fb,204fc, …,204fp (or RBs at RB position or index 5,15,25, …, 95). When interlace #9 (i = 9) is selected for allocation to a user device, the plurality of non-contiguous RBs of interlace #9 include RBs at RB positions 204ja,204jb,204jc, …,204jp (or RBs at RB position or index 9,19,29, …, 99).

Optionally, in the form of RB groups 302a-202p (e.g., groups 1-9), when interlace #0 (i = 0) is selected for allocation to a user device, the first RB (e.g., RB204aa from group 302a, RB204 ab from group 302b, RB204 ac from group 302c, etc.) located at RB position 0 from each of the RB groups 302a-202p is allocated to the user device. Similarly, when interlace #5 (i = 5) is selected for allocation to a user device, the sixth RB from each of RB groups 302a-202p (e.g., RB204 fa from group 302a, RB204 fb from group 302b, RB204 fc from group 302c, etc.) is selected for allocation to the user device. When interlace #9 (i = 9) is selected for allocation to a user device, the (Nc-1) th RB from each of the RB groups 302a-202p, i.e., the ninth RB (e.g., RB204 ja from group 302a, RB204 jb from group 302b, RB204 jc from group 302c, etc., RB204 jp from group 302 p) is selected for allocation to the user device.

When rem (N) _T /Nc)>0, interlace identifier # i may define a plurality of non-contiguous RBs by selecting a set of RBs from a plurality of contiguous RBs using RB positions or RB indices defined by i, i + Nc, i + 2Nc, …, i + (N-1) Nc, and i + N Nc, where N = floor (N) _T Nc) and is in i<rem(N _T Nc).

Although N is _T The above example of =100 and Nc =10 equally divides or partitions the plurality of consecutive RBs 204aa-204m into Nc RB groups 302a-302p, but the skilled person will understand that N is _T And other values of Nc may be used, but they may not be equally divided or partitioned into the span frequency bandwidth F _BW A plurality of consecutive RBs 204aa-204m. Therefore, when rem (N) _T /Nc)>0, and assuming Nc defines the number of interlaces, the plurality of consecutive RBs may be divided into a set of consecutive RB groups, including a first set of consecutive RB groups and a second set of RB groups. The number of RB groups may be floor (N) _T Nc) +1 RB group. Each RB group in the first set of consecutive RBs may have a first number Nc of consecutive RBs. Each RB group of the second RB group may have a second number rem (N) _T /Nc)<Nc consecutive RBs. As such, the predefined set of interlaces may include a first predefined set of interlaces and a second predefined set of interlaces.

Each interlace # i in the first predefined set of interlaces defines a plurality of non-contiguous RBs by selecting a set of RBs from a plurality of contiguous RBs using RB locations or RB indices defined by i, i + Nc, i + 2Nc, …, i + (n-1) Nc, and i + n Nc, where n = floor (NT/Nc) and is at 0<＝i<rem(N _T Nc). Each interleaved non-contiguous RB in the first interleaved setThe number of (C) is floor (N) _T Nc) +1, and the number of interlaces in the first interlace set is Nc1= rem (N) _T Nc). Each interlace # i in the second predefined set of interlaces defines a plurality of non-contiguous RBs by selecting a set of RBs from the plurality of contiguous RBs using the RB locations or RB indices defined by i, i + Nc, i + 2Nc, …, i + (N-1) Nc, and i + N Nc, where N = floor (NT/Nc), and in rem (N:) _T /Nc)<＝i<Nc-1. The number of non-contiguous RBs per interlace in the second interlace set is Nc, and the number of interlaces in the second interlace set floor (N) _T /Nc)。

For example, N _T Where a number of consecutive RBs of =100 RBs are divided into 8 interlaces, i.e. Nc =8, there will be floor (N) _T /Nc) +1 or 13 RB groups divided into a first set of 12 RB groups, each RB group having 8 consecutive RBs, and a second RB group having 4 consecutive RBs. Note that the number of RBs per interlace may be 12 or 13 for different interlaces. That is, interlace #0, interlace #1, interlace #2, and interlace #3 have 13 non-contiguous RBs, and the remaining interlaces have 12 non-contiguous RBs.

Note that each interlace has or supports a certain or specific number of non-contiguous RBs. When a user equipment requires the number of non-contiguous RBs supported by more than one interlace, more than one interlace may be selected by the base station for allocating RBs to the user equipment for uplink transmission. Only those RBs defined by each selected interlace are then allocated to the user equipment. For example, when N is _T With =100 and Nc =10, if interlace model #0, #5 and interlace model # Nc-1 are selected for allocating 3 × Nc RBs (or 30 RBs) to the user equipment, the first RB, sixth RB and last RB from each RB group (e.g., RBs 204aa, RB204 fa and RB204 ja from group 302a, RBs 204ab, RB204 fb and RB204 jb from group 302b, RB204 ac, RB204 fc and RB204 jc from group 302c, etc.) are allocated to the user equipment. Each interlace ensures that at least one RB from a lower portion (e.g., group 302 a) of the frequency bandwidth is allocated and at least one RB located in an upper portion (e.g., group 302 p) of the frequency bandwidth is allocated toMeets the requirement of 80 percent. In N _T In the example of =100 RBs and Nc =8, the base station (or eNB) may allocate interlace #0 to the user equipment if the number of RBs required for user equipment uplink transmission is less than or equal to 13, or may allocate interlace #0 and interlace #5 to the user equipment if the number of RBs required for user equipment uplink transmission is between 13 and 26, or may allocate interlace #0, interlace #1, and interlace #5 to the user equipment if the number of RBs required is between 26 and 39, and so on.

FIG. 3b shows an example order 310 when combining one or more interlaces as shown in FIG. 3a for LAA, when the frequency bandwidth is F _BW The total number of RB 204aa-204m is N =20MHz _T Where =100 RBs and the number of interlaces is Nc =10, it means that the number of RB groups is also Nc =10 in this particular example. For each interlace # i (i =0,1,2, …, 9), 10 non-consecutive RBs with RB positions or indices i, i +10, i +20, …, i +90 in the frequency bandwidth belong to the interlace. By way of example only, if a user equipment only requires the number of RBs for one interlace, i.e., nc =10, the base station may select interlace #0 for allocating 10 RBs to the user equipment. This is shown in fig. 3b as interleaving order a. For the interleaved order a, the first and last RBs span 16.38MHz (= 180KHz/RB × 91 RBs), which is significantly greater than 80% of the 20MHz nominal channel bandwidth, and there are 10 different "MHz" occupied, so that the allowed output power of the user equipment can be as high as 20dBm (= 10dbm +10 × log10 (10)).

As shown in fig. 3b, there are 10 different interleaving orders, a-j, based on interleaving # i (i =0,1,2, …, 9). Interleaving order a is based on interleaving #0, which provides Nc =10 RB clusters (cluster), as shown in row a of interleaving order a. Interlace order B is an order based on interlace #0 and interlace #5, which provides 2nc =20 RB clusters, as shown in row B of interlace order B. Interlace order C is an order based on interlace #0, interlace #5, and interlace #1, which provides 2nc =20 RB clusters, as shown in row C of interlace order C. Interlace order D is an order based on interlace #0, interlace #5, interlace #1, and interlace #6, which provides 2nc =20 RB clusters as shown in row D of interlace order D. Interlace order E is an order based on interlace #0, interlace #5, interlace #1, interlace #6, and interlace #2, which provides 2nc =20 RB clusters as shown in row E of interlace order E. Interlace order F is based on the order of interlace #0, interlace #5, interlace #1, interlace #6, interlace #2, and interlace #7, which provides 2nc =20 RB clusters, as shown in row F of interlace order F. Interlace order G is based on the order of interlace #0, interlace #5, interlace #1, interlace #6, interlace #2, interlace #7, and interlace #3 from RB group 302p from which the last 6 RBs were removed, since the number of RBs would be 70, which is unacceptable for Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) implementation, 6 RBs are removed to reduce the total number to 64, which provides 2Nc-1=19 RB clusters, as shown in row G of interlace order G. Interlace order H is based on the order of interlace #0, interlace #5, interlace #1, interlace #6, interlace #2, interlace #7, interlace #3, and interlace #8, as shown in row H of interlace order H, which provides 2nc =20 RB clusters. The second to last interleaved order I is based on the order of interleaved #0, interleaved #5, interleaved #1, interleaved #6, interleaved #2, interleaved #7, interleaved #3, interleaved #8 and interleaved #4, as shown in row I of interleaved order I, which provides Nc =20 RB clusters. Finally, the last interleaving order J is based on the order of interleaving #0, interleaving #5, interleaving #1, interleaving #6, interleaving #2, interleaving #7, interleaving #3, interleaving #8, interleaving #4, and interleaving #9, which provides 1 RB cluster, as shown in row J of interleaving order J. It can be seen that when more than one interlace can be allocated to a user equipment, it is allocated to the user equipment in a specific order of #0, #5, #1, #6, #2, #7, #3, #8, #4 and # 9. In this example, the total number of RBs need only be the product of 2,3 and 5. Note that the above combinations of different interlaces are examples and their horizontal translations belong to the same order, e.g., interlace # i (i =0,1,2, …, 9) is also interlace order a and the combination of interlaces # i, # i +5, # i +1, and # i +6 (i =0,1,2,3) is also interlace order D.

In general, when the total number N of a plurality of consecutive RBs _T When equally divided into sets of consecutive RB groups, each group including the same number Nc of consecutive RBs, the interleaving order may be described. The plurality of non-contiguous RBs defined by each predefined interlace includes one RB selected from the same RB location in each RB group. The predefined interleaving mayOrdered in any way such that the order of interleaving satisfies: 1) First interleaving provides N _T Nc non-contiguous RB clusters; 2) The second interlace providing 2N when combined with the first interlace _T Nc non-contiguous RB clusters; 3) Subsequent interlaces provide 2N when combined with previously combined interlaces _T Nc non-contiguous RB clusters; 4) The next-to-last predefined interlace in the ordered set of predefined interlaces, when combined with all previously combined interlaces, provides N _T Nc non-contiguous RB clusters; and 5) the last predefined interlace in the ordered set of predefined interlaces, when combined with all previously combined interlaces, provides a cluster of RBs. As described below, one or more interlaces or partial interlaces may be allocated to a user device or one or more user devices according to the predefined order.

In addition, when the total number is N _T When a plurality of consecutive RBs are not equally divided into a set of consecutive RB groups, another interleaving order may be generally described. Conversely, the total number of the plurality of consecutive RBs is divided into sets of consecutive RB groups, each set in the first set of consecutive RB groups including the same number Nc of consecutive RBs, and another set of RB groups including the second number Nc1<Nc (e.g., nc1= rem (N) _T /Nc)) consecutive RBs. The plurality of non-contiguous RBs defined by each of the Nc1 predefined interleaved first sets includes one RB selected from the same RB location in each of the first set of contiguous RB groups and a second set of RBs. The plurality of non-contiguous RBs defined by each of the remaining Nc-Nc1 sets of predefined interlaces includes one RB selected from the same RB location in each of the first set of contiguous RB groups. The predefined interlaces may be ordered in any manner such that the order of the interlaces satisfies: 1) First staggered to provide floor (N) _T Nc) +1 non-contiguous RB cluster; 2) The second interleave, when combined with the first interleave, provides 2-floor (N) _T Nc) +1 non-contiguous RB cluster; 3) Subsequent interlaces, when combined with previously combined interlaces, provide 2-floor (N) _T Nc) +1 non-contiguous RB cluster; 4) The next-to-last predefined interlace in the ordered set of predefined interlaces, when combined with all previously combined interlaces, provides floor (N) _T Nc) +1 non-contiguous RB cluster; and 5) the last of the ordered set of predefined interlacesThe interlace is predefined and, when combined with all previously combined interlaces, provides one RB cluster. As described below, one or more interlaces or partial interlaces may be allocated to a user device or one or more user devices according to the predefined order.

RAN1 agrees that RB-layer multi-cluster transmission (> 2) is at least supported for eLAA in the physical uplink shared channel. Thus, based on the interleaving order a-J, one or more interleaves may be allocated to user devices such that the number of RBs allocated to user devices may be 10,20,30,40,50,60,64,80,90 and 100. When the number of RBs required by the user equipment is not one of these numbers, padding symbols are added until a complete interlace for each interlace can be occupied. A full interlace may be defined as the entire set or all of the plurality of non-contiguous RBs, or a predefined set of interleaved entire RBs being used or occupied. For example, if 15 RBs are needed by the user equipment, interlaces based on interlace order B (e.g., interlace #0 and interlace # 5) can be allocated by the base station (e.g., eNB) to the user equipment to provide 20 RBs of 2 interlaces (# 0 and # 5), with padding symbols equal to 5 RBs added to interlace #5 so that two complete interlaces are occupied by the user equipment.

The interleaving-based solution as shown in fig. 3b can allocate only a specific number of RBs 1 to 100 to one user equipment when the specific number of RBs is only a product of 2,3 and 5. This reduces the flexibility of allocating different numbers of RBs to each user equipment on the PUSCH. This reduced flexibility will also seriously impact the uplink RB allocation efficiency and/or uplink capacity, given that multiple user equipments can share the uplink using PUSCH.

For example, in a scenario where there are 3 user equipments, i.e. UE1, UE2 and UE3, e.g. sharing the frequency bandwidth F _BW PUSCH over =20MHz, total N _T Consecutive RBs 204aa-204m of =100 RBs and Nc =10 interlaces, or the number of RB groups 302a-302p is Nc =10. Based on the interleaving order a-J of fig. 3b, these interleaves may be assigned to UE1, UE2, and UE3. The base station may assign one or more interlaces to the U according to the interlace order described aboveE1, another one or more interlaces are allocated to UE2 and yet another one or more interlaces are allocated to UE3. Note that these interlaces do not overlap and are different for each user equipment, for the interlace-based solution described above, because of the condition that each interlace must be fully occupied by each user equipment. In the above scenario, each interlace provides 10 non-contiguous RBs, which may be allocated to user equipment. If UE1 needs 15 RBs, UE2 needs 4 RBs, and UE3 needs 11 RBs, then, assuming the interleaving order a-J and the associated interleaving model, UE1 needs to fill 2 interleaves of 5 RBs, UE2 needs to fill another 1 interleave of 6 RBs, and UE3 needs to fill another 2 interleaves of 9 RBs. Thus, 5 interlaces are required to allocate the required number of RBs to UE1, UE2 and UE3. These 5 interlaces may be allocated based on interlace order E (i.e., using interlace #0, interlace #5, interlace #1, interlace #6, interlace # 2). That is, UE1 may be allocated interlace #0 and interlace #5, UE2 may be allocated interlace #1, UE3 may be allocated interlace #6 and interlace #2.

In this scenario, although these interlaces cause the user equipments to have different RB requirements to occupy as many "MHz" as possible, and more than 80% of the frequency bandwidth is used, there is a distribution efficiency loss on PUSCH due to the required padding RBs, and increased battery consumption.

The inventors have found that a more efficient allocation scheme can be used which removes or reduces the padding requirement, but still allows RBs to be efficiently allocated based on the interleaving scheme and order as shown in fig. 3a and 3 b. Without padding symbols, the uplink RB can be used more efficiently, and thus, uplink throughput can be improved. In addition, terminal battery consumption can be reduced because padding symbols, which waste significant transmission power, need not be transmitted. The inventors have realized that an improvement to the above described interlace-based RB allocation schemes of fig. 3a and 3b may be achieved that efficiently supports multiple user equipments with different bandwidth requirements and further improves the uplink spectrum usage efficiency.

Essentially, when the number of RBs required by the user equipment is less than the total number of available RBs for one full interlace, the improved allocation scheme according to the present invention implemented by the base station (or eNB) can allocate only a subset of the available non-contiguous RBs for an interlace, which can be referred to as partial interlace. Partial interleaving may be defined as a subset or selection of multiple non-contiguous RBs that are interleaved or fully interleaved. Allocating the partial interlaces can also include allocating RBs needed for user equipment uplink data transmission from a subset of available RBs for the partial interlaces, where each RB in the subset of available RBs includes a partially interlaced available RB that is farthest from a center of the frequency bandwidth or a partially interlaced available RB that is closest to the center of the frequency bandwidth. The available subset of RBs may be the RBs furthest from near the center of the frequency bandwidth but that also meet the 80% bandwidth requirement. Thus, the available RB subset may include RBs from the group of RBs located in the outermost region of the frequency bandwidth. The partial interlaces allocated to UE1 are only partially filled because UE1 does not need the full number of RBs for the interlace.

When the number of RBs required for a user equipment is greater than the total number of RBs supported by one interlace, the base station may first allocate one or more complete interlaces to the user equipment, and then the remaining RBs may be allocated from another interlace that is either before or after the already allocated interlace. The subsequently allocated interlaces are partially allocated, where the available RBs closest to the center of the frequency bandwidth may be allocated first, or those available RBs closest to near the center of the frequency bandwidth may be allocated first. For example, another user equipment, e.g., UE2, may need more RBs than the total number of RBs that one or more interlaces can support, and thus any unallocated RBs of the partial interlaces used by UE1 may be utilized. UE2 may first be allocated one or more full interlaces that will satisfy the bandwidth requirements, and for any remaining or other RBs needed for UE2, UE2 may be allocated a second subset of available RBs from any available non-contiguous RBs of the partial interlaces used by UE1. Each RB in the second subset of RBs includes a partially staggered available RB closest to near a center of the frequency bandwidth. That is, the second subset of RBs includes available RBs based on RB locations as close or closer to the center or middle of the frequency bandwidth as possible. For example, for the second subset of partially interleaved available RBs allocated to UE2, the second subset of RBs may include the first available RB located closest to the center of the frequency bandwidth, the second available RB located next closest to the center of the frequency bandwidth, and so on, and subsequent RBs radiating to the outermost RB location as more RBs are allocated.

Assuming UE2 requires a third interlace, any remaining RBs may be allocated from a third subset of available RBs of the third interlace, which is closest to, or near, the center of the frequency bandwidth. For example, for the third interlace, the third subset of RBs may include the first available RB having an RB position closest to the center of the frequency bandwidth, the second available RB having an RB position closest to near the center of the frequency bandwidth, and so on, as well as subsequent RBs radiating to the outermost RB position of the third interlace as more RBs are allocated.

Fig. 4A is a flow diagram illustrating an example flow 400 for a base station 104A in a telecommunications network over unlicensed wireless spectrum to allocate a set of RBs to one or more of a plurality of user devices 108A-108B transmitting uplink data to the base station in accordance with the present invention. For simplicity, reference numbers that are the same and/or similar to those used in fig. 1-3 b have been reused or referenced. For simplicity, two

user equipments

108A and 108B are depicted, which are being served by the base station 104A, but the skilled person understands that the base station 104A may serve a plurality of user equipments and the following flow 400 may be applied to each of the plurality of user equipments served by the base station 104A. The frequency bandwidth includes a plurality of consecutive RBs 204aa-204m spanning the frequency bandwidth. The method, performed by a base station, may include the following steps.

Each

user equipment

108A or 108B of the plurality of user equipments being served by the base station 104A may send a request to the base station 104A, the request representing data indicating the number of RBs required for the

user equipment

108A or 108B to transmit uplink data. In step 402, the base station 104A receives the request from each

user device

108A or 108B of the plurality of user devices, the request representing data indicating a number of RBs required for the

user device

108A or 108B to transmit uplink data over the frequency bandwidth of the unlicensed radio spectrum. The request representing data indicating the number of RBs required for the

user equipment

108A or 108B to transmit uplink data may include, by way of example only, but not limitation, 1) data representing the number of required RBs; 2) Data indicating to the base station 104b to determine the number of RBs needed; 3) The base station 104b may determine the buffer level to which how many required RBs should be allocated (e.g., how much data needs to be transmitted); 4) Data representing channel quality (better channel, fewer RBs, worse channel, more RBs) that the base station can use to determine how many RBs the

user equipment

108A or 108B needs; 5) Any other data that may be compiled or determined by the base station for the number of RBs required for each

user equipment

108A or 108B.

In step 404, the base station 104A allocates a set of RBs to each

user equipment

108A or 108B for uplink transmission based on a set of one or more predefined interlaces with available RBs, wherein each interlace defines a unique plurality of non-contiguous RBs selected from a plurality of contiguous RBs. Step 404 may include step 405, step 406, and/or step 408 for each user equipment 108A-108B depending on the number of RBs required for uplink transmission for each

user equipment

108A or 108B.

In step 405, the base station 104A may allocate one or more complete interlaces in a predefined set of interlaces to the

user equipment

108A or 108B for uplink transmission when the number of RBs needed for uplink transmission is greater than or equal to the total number of non-contiguous RBs for the one or more interlaces, wherein the total number of non-contiguous RBs in each of the one or more interlaces is available.

In step 406, the base station 104A can allocate a partial interlace associated with each user device 108A for any other RBs required for uplink data transmission for the interlace when the number of other RBs required for uplink transmission is less than the number of available non-contiguous RBs for the interlace, wherein the partial interlace defines a subset of available RBs for an interlace in the predefined set of interlaces.

In step 408, the base station 104A can allocate the partial interlace associated with the interlace to the user equipment 108A when the number of RBs required for uplink transmission is less than the total number of available non-contiguous RBs for the partial interlace.

In step 410, the base station 104A transmits a resource information message to each

user equipment

108A and 108B, wherein the resource information message includes data representing the set of RBs allocated to the user equipment.

Step 406 may also include allocating one or more other partial interlaces for any other RBs needed for uplink data transmission for each user equipment when the number of other RBs needed for the user equipment is less than the number of available non-contiguous RBs for each of the one or more partial interlaces.

When one or more complete interlaces are allocated to user device 108A, step 406 may also include allocating other RBs from the subset of available RBs for the partial interlace, where each RB in the subset of available RBs includes an available RB for the partial interlace closest to or near the center of the frequency bandwidth.

When partial interlaces are allocated to the user device 108A and the total number of RBs needed for uplink transmission is less than the total number of available non-contiguous RBs for the interlaces, step 408 may further include allocating RBs needed for user device uplink data transmission from a subset of the available RBs for the partial interlaces, wherein each RB in the subset of available RBs includes the available RBs for the partial interlace that is farthest from the center of the frequency bandwidth or farthest from near the center of the frequency bandwidth.

The subset of available RBs may include two available RBs partially staggered spanning at least 80% of a frequency bandwidth of the unlicensed spectrum. The plurality of non-contiguous RBs for each interlace in the predefined interlace set span at least 80% of the frequency bandwidth.

Flow 400 may include allocating interlaces from a predefined set of interlaces in a predefined order that maximizes an output transmission power of each user equipment. Optionally, the interlaces may be assigned in a predefined order for when the total number is N _T Is equally divided into a set of consecutive RB groups, and each group includes the same number Nc of consecutive RBs. The plurality of non-contiguous RBs defined by each predefined interlace includes one RB selected from the same RB location in each RB group. The predefined interlaces are ordered in any manner such that the order of the interlaces satisfies: 1) First interleaving provides N _T Nc non-contiguous RB clusters; 2) The second interleaving is the first interleavingWhen combined provide 2N _T Nc non-contiguous RB clusters; 3) Subsequent interlaces provide 2N when combined with previously combined interlaces _T Nc non-contiguous RB clusters; 4) The penultimate predefined interlace in the ordered set of predefined interlaces, when combined with all previously combined interlaces, provides N _T Nc non-contiguous RB clusters; and 5) the last predefined interlace in the ordered set of predefined interlaces, when combined with all previously combined interlaces, provides a cluster of RBs. As described below, one or more interlaces or partial interlaces may be allocated to a user device or one or more user devices according to the predefined order. The predefined order may be based on the order described in connection with fig. 3a and 3 b.

Alternatively or additionally, when the total number is N _T When a plurality of consecutive RBs are not equally divided into a set of consecutive RB groups, another interleaving order may be generally described. In contrast, the total number is N _T Is divided into a first set of consecutive RB groups, each of the first set of consecutive RB groups including the same number Nc of consecutive RBs, and another set of RBs including a second number Nc1 of consecutive RBs<Nc (e.g., nc1= rem (N) _T /Nc)) consecutive RBs. The plurality of non-contiguous RBs defined by each of the Nc1 predefined interleaved first sets includes one RB selected from the same RB location in each of the first set of contiguous RB groups and a second set of RBs. The plurality of non-contiguous RBs defined by each of the remaining Nc-Nc1 sets of predefined interlaces includes one RB selected from the same RB position in each of the first set of contiguous RB groups. The predefined interlaces may be ordered in any manner such that the order of the interlaces satisfies: 1) First staggered to provide floor (N) _T Nc) +1 non-contiguous RB cluster; 2) The second interleave combines to provide 2 × floor (N) at the first interleave _T Nc) +1 non-contiguous RB cluster; 3) Subsequent interlaces, when combined with previously combined interlaces, provide 2-floor (N) _T Nc) +1 non-contiguous RB cluster; 4) The next-to-last predefined interlace in the ordered set of predefined interlaces, when combined with all previously combined interlaces, provides floor (N) _T Nc) +1 non-contiguous RB cluster; and 5) the last predefined interlace in the ordered set of predefined interlaces, in combination with all previous onesInterleaving, when combined, provides one RB cluster. As described below, one or more interlaces or partial interlaces may be allocated to a user device or one or more user devices according to the predefined order. The predefined order may be based on the order described in connection with fig. 3a and 3 b.

The resource information message includes data representing a set of RBs allocated to the user equipment, and data representing interlace indexes identifying a first interlace allocated to the user equipment based on a predefined order and a number of interlaces allocated to the user equipment. The resource information message may further include data representing an interlace index identifying one or more partial interlaces that allocate the user equipment based on the predefined order and whether the partial interlaces are the first interlace or the last interlace allocated to the user equipment.

Alternatively or additionally, the resource information message of each user equipment may further comprise data from the group of: data identifying an interlace identifier of a first interlace assigned to the user equipment; data identifying a number of interlaces assigned to the user equipment; identifying whether a first interlace assigned to the user equipment is partially interlaced data; data identifying whether a partial interlace other than the first interlace has been allocated to the user equipment; and identifying data from any partially interleaved set of RBs allocated to the user equipment.

Fig. 4b is a flow chart illustrating an example flow 430 of a user equipment when receiving an allocated RB set from a base station, which has been allocated according to the flow 400 and step 404 of fig. 4a, in accordance with the present invention. The flow 430 can be for assigning RBs for uplink data transmission by a user equipment 108A in the telecommunications network 100 to a base station 104A over a frequency bandwidth of an unlicensed radio spectrum. The frequency bandwidth may include a plurality of consecutive RBs spanning the frequency bandwidth. The process is executed by the user equipment, and can comprise the following steps:

the user equipment 108A may send a request to the base station indicating data indicating the number of RBs required for the user equipment 108A to transmit uplink data. In step 432, the user equipment 108A receives a resource information message from the base station, the resource information message including data representing a set of RBs allocated to the user equipment 108A for transmission of uplink data. Data representing a set of RBs allocated based on one or more interlaces in a predefined set of interlaces with available RBs that have been allocated by the base station 104A to the user equipment 108A for uplink transmission, each interlace in the predefined set of interlaces defining a unique plurality of non-contiguous RBs selected from a plurality of contiguous RBs.

In step 434, user device 108A assigns RBs from a plurality of consecutive RBs based on the allocated one or more interlaces. Step 434 can include step 435, step 436, and/or step 438 to assign the RBs for the uplink transmission based on the number of RBs required to be allocated by the base station 104A to the user equipment 108A for uplink transmission.

In step 435, when the number of RBs needed for the uplink transmission is greater than or equal to the total number of non-contiguous RBs for the one or more interlaces, the user equipment 108A can assign RBs from the plurality of contiguous RBs based on one or more complete interlaces in the predefined set of interlaces allocated for the uplink transmission, wherein the total number of non-contiguous RBs for each of the one or more interlaces is available.

In step 436, for any other RBs needed for uplink transmission by the user device 108A, when the number of other RBs needed for uplink transmission is less than the number of available non-contiguous RBs for an interlace, the user device 108A can assign one or more other RBs from the plurality of contiguous RBs based on a partial interlace associated with the interlace allocated to the user device 108A, wherein the partial interlace defines a subset of available RBs for an interlace in the predefined interlace set.

In step 438, when the total number of RBs needed for uplink transmission is less than the total number of available non-contiguous RBs for the interlace, user device 108A may assign RBs from multiple contiguous RBs based on the partial interlace associated with the interlace allocated to user device 108A.

In step 440, the user equipment 108A transmits uplink data to the base station 104A based on the assigned RBs.

Step 436 can also include, when one or more complete interlaces are allocated to user device 108A, user device 108A assigning other RBs from the partially interlaced subset of available RBs, wherein each RB in the subset of available RBs comprises the partially interlaced available RB that is closest to, or near, the center of the frequency bandwidth.

Step 438 may also include, when a partial interlace is allocated to user device 108A and the total number of RBs needed for uplink transmission is less than the total number of available non-contiguous RBs for a interlace, user device 108A assigning RBs needed for uplink data transmission for user device 108A from the partially interlaced subset of available RBs, wherein each RB in the subset of available RBs comprises a partially interlaced available RB that is furthest from the center of the frequency bandwidth or furthest from near the center of the frequency bandwidth. In addition, the subset of available RBs may include two available RBs that are partially staggered, spanning at least 80% of the frequency bandwidth of the unlicensed spectrum. The plurality of non-contiguous RBs of each interlace in the predefined set of interlaces also spans at least 80% of the frequency bandwidth.

In step 432, the resource information message may include data representing the set of RBs allocated to the user equipment 108A, i.e., the data representing the set of RBs further includes data representing an interlace index identifying a first interlace allocated to the user equipment 108A based on the predefined order and a number of interlaces allocated to the user equipment 108A. Additionally or alternatively, the resource information message may further include data representing an interlace index identifying one or more partial interlaces assigned to the user device 108A based on the predefined order and whether the partial interlace is the first interlace or the last interlace assigned to the user device 108A.

Additionally or alternatively, the resource information message of the user equipment 108A may also include data from the group of: data identifying an interlace identifier of a first interlace assigned to user device 108A; data identifying the number of interlaces assigned to user device 108A; identifying whether a first interlace assigned to user device 108A is partially interlaced data; identifying whether a partial interlace other than the first interlace has been allocated data for user device 108A; and identifying data from any partially interleaved set of RBs allocated to the user equipment.

FIG. 5 is a graph at N _T Schematic diagram of interlace #0 from fig. 3a at =100 and Nc =10. Interlace #0 includes RB positions or

indices

0,10, …,90, each from the first RB position of multiple RB groups 302a-302 p. Based on the allocation method according to the present invention, the outermost two RBs, RB 0 and RB 90, must be allocated to one user equipment, wherein the two RBs guarantee that the user equipment can pass the test occupying 80% of the channel bandwidth. If the additional RBs are less than the total number of RBs supported by interlace #0, then the partial interlaces of interlace #0 may be allocated and the RBs follow an allocation model in which any available subset of RBs from interlaces farthest from the center of the frequency bandwidth or farthest from near the center of the frequency bandwidth are allocated, by way of example only and not limitation, these RBs may be located near RBs 40-60 of the frequency bandwidth, or near RB 50. That is, RBs may be allocated toward a central region of interlace #0 or an available RB (e.g., the farthest available RB from the center of a frequency bandwidth) in the middle from the outermost layer of interlace #0 (e.g., RB locations may be allocated according to allocation models of #0, #90, #10, #80, #20, #70, #30, etc.).

When the number of RBs required for that user equipment is greater than the number of RBs provided by one or more interlaces, the remaining RBs that cannot occupy the entire interlace can be mapped to any RB location within the partial interlace of the interlace, as long as all user equipments follow the same allocation model. The decision on location may be made at the base station (e.g., eNB), and by way of example only, RB allocations based on multiple user equipments may be best multiplexed. In this case, the remaining RBs may be allocated from any subset of available RBs that are closest to or staggered near the center of the frequency bandwidth, where the remaining RBs may be located near RBs 40-60 or near RB 50 in the example. That is, RBs may be allocated from the innermost available RB (e.g., the available RB closest to the center of the frequency bandwidth) closest to the middle of the same interlace model #0 (e.g., from RB #40, #50, #30, #60, #20, …, # 80), which may also contribute to more allowable output power. Fig. 7 illustrates an order of how RBs are allocated from an available RB closest to the middle of a frequency bandwidth. When the number of RBs required by the user equipment is greater than the number of RBs provided by one interleaving model, the remaining RBs that cannot occupy the entire interleaving can be mapped to any RB location within the partial interleaving, as long as all user equipments follow the same allocation model (e.g., the allocation model described above or in connection with fig. 7). The decision on location may be made at the base station (e.g., eNB), by way of example only, based on how the multiple user equipment RB allocations may be best multiplexed.

Fig. 6 is another schematic diagram of an example RB allocation for 3 user equipments (i.e., UE1, UE2, and UE 3), wherein RBs are allocated based on a partial staggered allocation scheme according to the present invention. As previously mentioned, in one scenario, there are 3 user equipments (UE 1, UE2 and UE 3) sharing F on a frequency bandwidth, for example but not limited to _BW A total RB of N =20MHz PUSCH _T =100 RBs, the number of RB groups 302a-302J is Nc =10, and interlace # 0-interlace #9 of fig. 3a and 3b and the interlace order a-J of fig. 3b are used. If UE1 needs 15 RBs, UE2 needs 4 RBs, and UE3 needs 11 RBs, the conventional interleaving-based solution described in connection with fig. 3a and 3b needs a total of 5 interleaves for allocating the needed RBs. With the partial interlace allocation scheme according to the present invention, however, it is possible to meet the requirements of all 3 user equipments with only 3 interlaces as shown in fig. 6, while still meeting both regulations, i.e. the occupied channel bandwidth of all 3 user equipments exceeds 80% and the total power is less than 23dBm.

As shown in fig. 6, there are a plurality of RB groups 302a-302j numbered from 1 to 10, where each of the RB groups 302a-302j has Nc =10c consecutive RBs numbered from 0 to 9. Assuming that UE1 requires 15 RBs, the base station 104A selects two interlaces for UE1 that will support the 15 RBs. Using the interlaces and orders described in connection with FIGS. 3a and 3b, the base station may select interlace #0 and interlace #5, which have available RBs to allocate to UE1 for its uplink transmission. Base station 104A then allocates a set of RBs to UE1 based on the selected two interlaces #0 and #5 and the available RBs therein. The base station first allocates full interlace #0 to UE1, which includes RBs 602a-602j associated with the selected interlace # 0. This is followed by the 5 remaining RBs 602k-602o that will be allocated to UE1.

Subsequently, base station 104A selects the next interlace with available RBs, interlace #5, in the middle cluster based on the order defined in FIG. 3b, where the available RBs are located near the center of the frequency bandwidth (e.g., near group 5), and allocates the 5 remaining RBs 602k-602o needed for UE1 uplink data transmission. According to an allocation model in which the subset of available RBs closest to near the center of the frequency bandwidth is used as described above, the 5 remaining RBs 602k-602o associated with interlace #5 may be allocated to UE1. That is, 5 remaining RBs 602k-602o are allocated from one or more other RB groups 302d-302h, which will include a subset of RBs from interlace #5 near the center of the frequency bandwidth (i.e., the middle portion of the frequency bandwidth). The 5 remaining RBs 602k-602o may be allocated from any available RB closest to the center region of the frequency bandwidth, closest to the center of the frequency bandwidth, or closest to interlace #5 near the center of the frequency bandwidth. In this example, a subset of RBs 602k-602o is allocated first from the innermost set of RBs 302d-302h, with set 302f being closest to the center of the frequency bandwidth, followed by subsequent innermost sets of

RBs

302e, 302g, 302d, and 302h, each being the subsequent next closest set of RBs with available RBs to the center of the frequency bandwidth. Suppose RB602k is allocated from RB group 302f, RB602 l is allocated from RB group 302e, RB602 m is allocated from RB group 302g, RB602 n is allocated from RB group 302d, and RB602 o is allocated from RB group 302 h. The available RB subset is allocated from the available RB next closest to interlace #5 near the center and outside of the frequency bandwidth, but does not include the outermost cluster of interlace # 5. In this case, only a subset of RBs from groups 302d-302h are needed since the number of RBs is 5, which is less than the number of available RBs for interlace # 5. In this way, a set of 15 RBs for UE1 may be allocated entirely from interlace #0 and partially from interlace #5 (the partial interlace associated with interlace # 5).

Assuming that UE2 requires 4 RBs, the base station 104A selects one interlace for UE2 that will support 4 RBs. To avoid padding interlaces, and according to a predefined order as depicted in fig. 3b, since interlace #0 is fully occupied by UE1, the base station may then select the partial interlace associated with interlace #5, which now has 5 RBs available in clusters 302a-302c and 302i-302j for allocation to UE2 for its uplink transmission. Base station 104A allocates a set of RBs and a subset of the RBs available therein based on interlace #5 as a partial interlace. Assuming that the number of RBs required by UE2 is less than the number of RBs supported by each interlace, UE2 is assigned partial interlaces according to an assignment model in which the available RB subset of interlace #5, which is furthest from the center of the frequency bandwidth, is assigned to UE2, as previously described in FIGS. 4 a-5. The base station typically allocates a subset of the available non-contiguous RBs of fractional interlace #5 based on the available RBs located from the center or central region of the frequency bandwidth or near the center of the frequency bandwidth. Thus, the base station first allocates two

RBs

604a and 604b associated with the selected interlace #5, which are available RBs farthest from the center or central region of the frequency bandwidth in interlace #5, from the first RB group 302a and the second RB group 302j (e.g., cluster 1 and cluster 10) corresponding to the outermost portion of the frequency bandwidth. The next are 2 RBs to be allocated. Subsequently, for the other 2 RBs needed for UE2 uplink data transmission, base station 104A allocates the other 2 RBs 604c-604d associated with interlace #5, which are the next farthest from or near the center of the frequency bandwidth. These may include one or more

other RB groups

302b,302 c, and 302i that correspond to the remaining available RBs furthest from the center region, center, or middle portion of the frequency bandwidth. In this example, RBs 604c-604d are allocated from

outer layers

302b and 302 i. Thus, a subset of 4 RBs for UE2 may be allocated from the partial interlace of interlace # 5. Interlace #5 now has 1 remaining available RB for allocation.

Assuming that UE3 needs 11 RBs, base station 104A selects two interlaces for UE3 that will support 11 RBs. The base station determines which next interlace in the predefined order may allow UE3 to meet the 80% bandwidth requirement and may therefore select interlace #1, which has 10 available RBs for allocation across the frequency bandwidth. The base station then determines whether any other remaining RBs are needed, in which case 1 other RB is needed, so that the base station determines that interlace #5 has 1 available RB for allocation. Thus, the base station selects interlace #1 as the full interlace to allocate to UE3 and interlace #5 as the partial interlace to allocate to UE3. Base station 104A then allocates a set of RBs to UE3 based on the selected two interlaces #1 and #5 and their available RBs. The base station first allocates a full interlace of interlace #1 that includes two

outermost RBs

606a and 606j from the first RB group 302a and the last RB group 302j (e.g., group 1 and group 10) corresponding to the outermost layers of the frequency bandwidth. Next are the 9 RBs to be allocated. Subsequently, for the other 9 RBs needed for UE3 uplink data transmission, base station 104A allocates from RB group 302b-302i the other 8 RBs 606b-606i associated with interlace #1 that can be allocated to UE3, such that the full interlace associated with interlace #1 is allocated to UE3. Now 1 RB606 k remains to be allocated to UE3. Assuming that the other remaining RBs needed are less than the number of RBs supported by the full interlace, base station 104A selects the next interlace to allocate to UE3 in the predefined order, i.e., interlace #5, for allocating the other remaining 1 RB. The other remaining 1 RB is allocated from the available RB closest to the center of the frequency bandwidth, and assuming there are only 1 available RB in

interlace #

5, 1 remaining RB606 k in group 302c associated with interlace model #5 may be allocated to UE3, which corresponds to the available RB closest to the center of the frequency bandwidth. In this example, RB602k is allocated only from the innermost cluster 302c of interlace # 5. Thus, a set of 11 RBs for UE3 may be allocated entirely from interlace model #1 and partially from interlace model # 5.

It can be seen that the enhanced partial interleaving allocation method or scheme according to the present invention uses only 3 interleaves #0, #5 and #1, relative to the 5 interleaves #0, #5, #1, #6, # 2of the interleaving based solution of fig. 3a and 3 b. RB use efficiency and power source use efficiency, which are the same, are compared in table 1 below. It can be seen that for the above scenario, both RB usage efficiency and power usage efficiency are improved using the partial interlace allocation scheme according to the present invention, compared to the full interlace allocation scheme with padding as described in fig. 3a and 3 b.

Table 1: efficiency comparison between full and partial interleaved allocation schemes

To support the type of RB allocation as described in fig. 4 a-6, two changes need to be made to the current specification. The first variation is to introduce an allocation model for allocating RBs from each interleaving model such that the interleaving model is fully used, or the use of available RBs in each interleaving model is maximized, but it guarantees that the RB allocation meets two main regulations regarding frequency bandwidth and transmission power. A second change is required to introduce a signaling symbol set to represent the set of RBs allocated to each user equipment.

Fig. 7 is a schematic structural diagram illustrating an allocation model 700 for allocating RBs to user equipments from each selected interlace. When the total number of RBs allocated to the user equipment cannot occupy one complete interlace, the outermost RB should be occupied first. For example, when the number of RBs required for user equipment uplink transmission is less than the total number of RBs supported by one interlace, a partial interlace comprising a subset of RBs from at least two RBs of group 302a and group 302j corresponding to positions (9) and (10) of the allocation model 700 should be allocated in order to meet the OCB requirement. Then, with the RB assigned first to the center of the frequency bandwidth and furthest from the center of the frequency bandwidth or middle region of the frequency bandwidth (e.g., groups 302e-302 f), any remaining RBs are assigned as a subset of RBs from the next outermost group of RBs 302b-302i in the replacement order (alternating order). Once a subset of RBs has the desired number of RBs, allocation model 700 may be used to generate an indication of the partially staggered starting RBs allocated to the user equipment. The indication of the starting RB of the partial interlace is the position in allocation model 700, allocation model 700 including the subset of RBs resulting from being closest to the center of the frequency bandwidth. The indication of the starting position and the number of RBs in the subset of RBs and the partial interlace identifier/interlace identifier may be used as signaling to inform the user equipment how to assign RBs from the partial interlaces allocated to it.

When the required number of RBs is greater than one or more interlaces, a full interlace will be allocated to the user equipment and any other remaining RBs will be allocated as partial interlaces related to another interlace. In this case, the OCB requirement has been met since the full interlace has been allocated to the user equipment. Subsequently, with the available RB assigned first closest to the center of the frequency bandwidth or middle region of the frequency bandwidth (e.g., groups 302e-302 f) and the subsequent available RB assigned later closest to the center of the frequency bandwidth, which may be read out in an alternating order as shown by location steps (1) - (8) of the allocation model in FIG. 7, the remaining RBs that are less than fully interleaved are assigned to another subset of RBs from the innermost group of RBs 302b-302i in the alternating order. For example, for interlace # i associated with a partial interlace, if the RB from group 302f located at position (1) (e.g., RB # i + 50) is available, this is first allocated, then if the next available RB located at position (2), i.e., next closest to the center of the frequency bandwidth, is available, this is allocated the RB from group 302e (e.g., RB # i + 40), and this alternating model is repeated for subsequent RBs and positions (3) - (8) as shown in fig. 7 until all of the remaining RBs needed are allocated as a subset of RBs for interlace # i. This allocation flow alternates to the outermost cluster 302a and the cluster 302 j. Note that if none of the innermost RBs from the innermost layer group closest to the center of the frequency bandwidth is available, positions (1-j-s-8) corresponding to the available RBs closest to the center of the frequency bandwidth are allocated first, and subsequent positions j +1 and so on are allocated in an alternating manner in fig. 7.

Once the other RB subsets have the desired number of RBs, allocation model 700 may be used to generate an indication of the partially staggered starting RB allocated to the user equipment. The indication of the starting RB of the partial staggering is a position in the allocation model 700, the allocation model 700 including the subset of RBs resulting from being closest to the center of the frequency bandwidth. The indication of the starting position and the number of RBs in the subset of RBs and the partial interlace identifier/interlace identifier may be used as signaling to inform the user equipment how to assign RBs from the partial interlaces allocated to it. In this way, when the total number of RBs allocated to the user equipment cannot occupy several consecutive complete interlaces, the remaining RBs can be mapped first to the center of the interlace, or when not, to any available RBs closest to the center of the frequency bandwidth or the central part of the interlace, as this depends on the position of the available RBs in the selected interlace.

As described above, data representing the set of RBs allocated to each user device needs to be transmitted from base station 104A to each user device 108A-108B. The data may represent a signaling symbol set indicating a set of RBs allocated to each user device based on the interlaces (e.g., full interlaces or partial interlaces) allocated to each user device and the corresponding RBs used in each interlace. Data representing the signalling symbols may be transmitted to each user equipment in a resource information message. This may include data representing one or more of the following: identifying data having an allocated interlace of at least one available RB allocated to the user equipment in each outermost layer group; data identifying the selected interlace model within the intermediate group having other available RBs allocated to the user equipment; and/or data identifying other numbers of available RBs.

Examples of signalling symbols that may be used to support the above-described enhanced partial allocation scheme according to the present invention described in connection with figures 3 a-7 may be based, by way of example only and not limitation, on the following parameters:

the index of the start interleave;

the number of interlaces assigned;

an indicator (1 symbol) when the first interlace ("0") or the last interlace ("1") is partial;

the index of the starting RB;

the number of RBs allocated in the partial interlace.

For example, according to the same design of "uplink resource allocation type 0" specified in section 8.1.1 of 3gpp TS 36.213v12.6.0 to support RB allocation and scheduling according to the present invention, the example described in connection with fig. 3 a-7 above, where 10 interlaces and 10 RBs per interlace are used, 6 symbols are needed for the interlace index and number of interlaces, 1 symbol is needed to indicate which interlace is partial, and 6 symbols are needed for the RB index and number of RBs. The number of total signaling symbols is 13, which is exactly the same as the number of DCI format 0 Resource Indication Value (RIV) symbols.

The signalling for scheduling and allocating RBs to user equipments in the example of fig. 6 is also explained in table 2 below as an illustration. Note that the interleaving allocation needs to follow a particular interleaving order, as in the example shown in fig. 3 a-6, e.g., the interleaving order of 0,5,1,6,2,7,3,8,4 and 9.

	UE1	UE2	UE3
				Interleaving index
	0	5	5
				Number of interlaces	2	1	2
Partial stagger indicator	1	0 or 1	0
				RB index (partially staggered inner)	0	7	6
Number of RBs	5	4	1

Table 2: signalling example #1 for UE1/UE2/UE3

The signaling design described above is assumed to be a reasonable design with the following limitations: 1) Only the first or last interlace may be partial; 2) All allocated interlaces of one user equipment must be consecutive by following the above

interleaving pattern order

0,5,1,6, …, 9; and 3) up to 3 user equipments may share the same interlace.

Optionally, by way of example only and not limitation, the signaling size may be reduced by using the following parameters:

the index of the start interleave;

the number of interlaces assigned;

the number of RBs allocated.

With this signaling design, only 2 user equipments can be assigned to share one interleaving model, and the indicator of 1 symbol needs to be interpreted as follows: when it is "0", the first interlace may be partial, and the allocated RBs in the partial interlace must be mapped in the reverse order of the order of fig. 7, i.e., starting from the allocation of RBs from step (10) and ending at step (1), and when it is "1", the last interlace may be partial, and the allocated RBs in the partial interlace must be mapped in the same order as the order in fig. 7, i.e., starting from the allocation of RBs from step (1) and ending at step (10). When there is only one assigned interlace, this indicator is assumed to be "0", whatever it is actually.

Fig. 8 is a structural diagram illustrating an example allocation 800 where only two user equipments UE1 and UE2 may share the same interlace. In this example, UE1 needs 15 RBs and UE2 needs 4 RBs. The signalling values for UE1/UE2 using alternate signalling with reduced size are given in table 3 below. Especially for UE2, the interlace index is 5 and the number of interlaces is 1, so the partial interlace indicator is ignored. The number of RBs was 4, and as shown in fig. 8, the order reverse to that of the allocation model of fig. 7 was followed, and therefore

RBs

804a,804b,804c,804d in the

respective RB groups

302a,302j,302b,302i were occupied.

	UE1	UE2
			Interleaving index
	0	5
			Number of interlaces	2	1
Partial stagger indicator	1	0 or 1
			Number of RBs	5	4

TABLE 3 signalling example #2 for UE1/UE2

For this alternate signaling example #2, the total signaling size is 11 symbols (saved relative to

example #

1,2 symbols). Although two examples for signaling the set of RBs to each user equipment have been described, the skilled person will appreciate that other designs are possible, more signaling symbols providing higher flexibility or fewer signaling symbols providing lower flexibility based on a compromise in terms of required flexibility.

Fig. 9a and 9b are graphs showing performance results of simulations comparing a full interleaving solution with padding symbols of fig. 3 with a partial interleaving allocation scheme with reduced or no padding symbols, according to the present invention, as described in connection with fig. 4 a-8. The simulation of the telecommunication system comprises 1 eNB serving 3 user equipments sharing the same bandwidth of 20MHz, each with a different throughput (in RB) as follows:

UE1: each subframe (40 + R) RB, wherein R is a random integer uniformly distributed in (0-30);

UE2: each subframe (10 + R) RB, wherein R is a random integer uniformly distributed in (0-10);

UE3: and R RBs are distributed in each subframe, wherein R is a random integer uniformly distributed in the range from (0-10).

The total throughput is no more than 100 RBs, and there should be no delay due to insufficient RBs. The average throughput is 75 RBs.

Three different RB allocation methods were compared:

option 1: if the required number of RBs is not the product of 10, padding symbols are added to occupy the complete interlace (this is the interlace-based solution described in FIG. 3);

option 2: if the number of required RBs is not the product of 10, then these RBs, which may occupy the full interlace, are sent first, and the corresponding packets for the remaining RBs are delayed and combined with the packet for the next subframe;

option 3: this is a partial interleaving scheme according to the present invention, but RBs that are not used in partial interleaving are also occupied with padding symbols. For example, if UE3 has more than 11 RBs, there will be two interlaces, which cannot be fully used.

The difference between option 1 and option 3 is RB usage efficiency, and both have a scheduled "0" delay. The difference between option 2 and option 3 is mainly the delay, option 2 has a better RB usage efficiency of 75%.

Fig. 9a is a graph of load versus CDF showing simulation results of RB use efficiency of option 1 and option 3. Option 1 is shown by a solid line and option 3 is shown by a dashed dotted line. The RB usage efficiency is compared in fig. 9a, where option 1 uses 88.5% of the total RBs on average, and option 3 uses 80.2% on average, so the relative efficiency gain of option 3 to option 1 is 10%.

Fig. 9b is a graph showing the delay profile of all 3 user equipments in option 2. Note that all user equipments in option 3 (which is a partial interleaving scheme according to the invention) have no delay. In fig. 9b, the delay is given in several units called "opportunities", which may be one TTI with supported multi-subframe scheduling or scheduling period when the delayed RBs of option 2 cannot be transmitted within the current scheduling period. As can be seen from fig. 9b, different user equipments have different delays, UE1 with higher throughput has 10% RBs delayed by 1 opportunity, and UE2 with medium throughput has 30% RBs delayed by 1 opportunity. UE3 experiences the longest delay of 1 opportunity of 61.5% RB, 2 opportunities of 21.7% and 3 or more opportunities of 6.9% RB.

It is apparent that the potential gain of the partial interlace allocation scheme according to the present invention, related to RB usage efficiency and delay, can be improved on the option 1 (previously the interlace-based solution using padding in fig. 3) scheme as well as on the option 2 scheme.

Fig. 10 illustrates various components of an exemplary computing-based device 1000 that may be implemented to include functionality for scheduling and allocation of communication resources, e.g., as described in connection with the eNB 104A in the telecommunications network 100 described with reference to fig. 1-9 b.

The computing-based device 1000 includes one or more processors 1002, which may be microprocessors, controllers, or any other suitable type of processor, for processing computer-executable instructions to control the operation of the device to perform measurements, receive measurement reports, schedule and/or allocate communication resources as described in the procedures and methods described herein.

In some examples, such as where a system-on-a-chip architecture is used, the processor 1002 may include one or more fixed function blocks (also referred to as accelerators) that implement the methods and/or processes described herein in hardware (rather than software or firmware).

Platform software and/or computer-executable instructions, including an operating system 1004a or any other suitable platform software, may be provided at the computing-based device to enable application software to be executed on the device. Depending on the functionality and capabilities of the computing device 1000 and the applications, software and/or computer executable instructions of the computing device may include functionality to perform measurements, receive measurement reports, schedule and/or allocate communication resources, and/or functionality of a base station or eNB according to the present invention as described with reference to fig. 1-9 b.

For example, the computing device 1000 may be used to implement a base station 104A or eNB 104A and may include software and/or computer-executable instructions that may include functionality to perform measurements, receive measurement reports, schedule and/or allocate communication resources, and/or functionality of a base station or eNB according to the present invention as described with reference to fig. 1-9 b.

Software and/or computer-executable instructions may be provided using any computer-readable medium accessible by computing-based device 1000. Computer-readable media may include, for example, computer storage media such as memory 1004 and communication media. Computer storage media, such as memory 1004, includes volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data.

Computer storage media may include, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital Versatile Disks (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other non-transmission medium which can be used to store information for access by a computing device. In contrast, communication media may embody computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal, such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism. As defined herein, computer storage media does not include communication media. While computer storage media (memory 1004) is shown within computing-based device 1000, it is to be understood that the storage can be distributed or located remotely and accessed via a network or other communication link, e.g., using communication interface 1006.

Computing-based device 1000 may also, optionally or if desired, include an input/output controller 1010 configured to output display information, which may provide a graphical user interface, to a display device 1012, which may be separate from or integrated with computing-based device 1000. The input/output controller 1010 is also configured to receive and process input from one or more devices, such as a user input device 1014 (e.g., a mouse or keyboard). This user input may be used to set a schedule for measurement reporting or to allocate communication resources, or to set which communication resources are of a first type and/or a second type, etc. In an embodiment, if display device 1012 is a touch-sensitive display device, it may also serve as user input device 1014. Input/output controller 1010 may also output data to devices other than a display device, such as other computing devices via communication interface 1006, any other communication interface, or locally connected printing devices/computing devices, etc.

Fig. 11 illustrates various components of an exemplary computing-based device 1100 that may be implemented to include functionality to assign and use scheduled communication resources, by way of example only and not limitation, as described in connection with UE 104A or UE 104b of telecommunications network 100 described with reference to fig. 1-10.

The computing-based device 1100 includes one or more processors 1102, which may be microprocessors, controllers, or any other suitable type of processor, for processing computer-executable instructions to control the operation of the device to perform measurements, receive measurement reports, schedule and/or allocate communication resources as described in the procedures and methods described herein. In some examples, such as where a system-on-a-chip architecture is used, the processor 1102 may include one or more fixed function blocks (also referred to as accelerators) that implement the methods and/or processes described herein in hardware (rather than software or firmware).

Platform software and/or computer-executable instructions, including an operating system 1104A or any other suitable platform software, may be provided at the computing-based device to enable application software to be executed on the device. Depending on the functionality and capabilities of the computing device 1100 and applications, software and/or computer-executable instructions of the computing device may include functionality to perform measurements, send measurement reports, assign and use scheduled communication resources, and/or functionality of a user equipment according to the present invention as described with reference to fig. 1-9 b. For example, as described herein, the computing device 1100 may be used to implement the

UE

108A or 108B and may include software and/or computer-executable instructions that may include functionality to perform measurements, send measurement reports, assign and use scheduled communication resources, and/or functionality of a user equipment in accordance with the present invention as described in connection with fig. 1-9B.

The software and/or computer executable instructions are provided using any computer readable medium accessible by the computing-based device 1100. Computer-readable media may include, for example, computer storage media such as memory 1104 and communication media. Computer storage media, such as memory 1104, includes volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data.

Computer storage media may include, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks ("DVD"), or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other non-transmission medium which can be used to store information for access by a computing device. In contrast, communication media may embody computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism. As defined herein, computer storage media does not include communication media. While computer storage media (memory 1104) is shown within computing device 1100, it is to be understood that the storage can be distributed or located remotely and accessed via a network or other communication link, for example using communication interface 1106.

Computing-based device 1100 can also, optionally or if desired, include an input/output controller 1110 configured to output display information, which can provide a graphical user interface, to a display device 1112, which can be separate from or integrated with computing-based device 1100. Input/output controller 1110 is also configured to receive and process input from one or more devices, such as a user input device 1114 (e.g., a mouse or keyboard). This user input may be used to set a schedule for measurement reporting or to allocate communication resources, or to set which communication resources are of a first type and/or a second type, etc. In an embodiment, if display device 1112 is a touch-sensitive display device, it can also serve as user input device 1114. Input/output controller 1110 may also output data to devices other than a display device, such as other computing devices via communication interface 1106, any other communication interface, or locally connected printing devices/computing devices, etc.

The term "computer" is used herein to refer to any device having processing capabilities such that it can execute instructions. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the processing power is integrated into many different devices and thus the term "computer" includes PCs, servers, base stations, ENBs, network nodes and other network elements, mobile phones, user equipment, personal digital assistants, other portable wireless communication devices and many other devices.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that storage devices utilized to store program instructions can be distributed across a network. For example, a remote computer may store an example of the process described as software. A local or terminal computer may access the remote computer and download a part or all of the software to allow the program. Alternatively, local computing may download pieces of the software as needed, or execute some software instructions at the local terminal and some at the remote computer (or computer network). Those skilled in the art will also realize that by utilizing conventional techniques known to those skilled in the art that all, or a portion of the software instructions may be carried out by a dedicated circuit, such as a DSP or programmable logic array, among others.

It will be apparent to the skilled person that any of the ranges or equipment values given herein may be extended or altered without losing the desired effect.

It should be understood that the benefits and advantages described above may relate to one example or embodiment, or may relate to several examples or embodiments. The examples or embodiments are not limited to these that solve any or all of the problems set forth or to these that have any or all of the benefits and advantages set forth.

Any reference to "a" or "an" term refers to one or more of those terms. The term 'comprising' is used herein to mean including the identified method steps, features or elements, but not including an exclusive list, and a method and apparatus may include additional steps and elements.

The steps of the methods described herein may be performed in any suitable order, or simultaneously where appropriate. In addition, individual steps may be deleted from any of the methods without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter described herein. Aspects of any of the examples described above may be combined with aspects of any other examples described to form further examples without losing the intended effect.

It will be understood that the above description of the preferred embodiments is given by way of example only and that various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art. Although various embodiments have been described with a certain degree of particularity, or with reference to one or more individual embodiments, those skilled in the art could make numerous alterations to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the scope of this invention.

Claims

1. A method of allocating resource blocks for a plurality of user equipments transmitting uplink data to a base station over a frequency bandwidth of an unlicensed radio spectrum, wherein the frequency bandwidth comprises a plurality of consecutive resource blocks spanning the frequency bandwidth, the method being performed by the base station and comprising:

receiving a request from each user equipment, the request representing data indicating a number of resource blocks required for each user equipment to transmit uplink data;

allocating a set of resource blocks to each user equipment for uplink transmission based on a predefined set of interlaces having a plurality of available resource blocks, wherein each interlace in the predefined set of interlaces defines a unique plurality of non-contiguous resource blocks selected from a plurality of contiguous resource blocks, wherein allocating the set of resource blocks to each user equipment further comprises:

allocating one or more full interlaces in the predefined set of interlaces to a user equipment for uplink transmission when a number of resource blocks needed for uplink transmission is greater than or equal to a total number of non-contiguous resource blocks of one or more interlaces, wherein the total number of non-contiguous resource blocks in each of the one or more interlaces is available;

for any other resource blocks needed for uplink data transmission by the user equipment, allocating a partial interlace to the user equipment when the number of other resource blocks needed for uplink transmission is less than the number of available non-contiguous resource blocks for an interlace, wherein the partial interlace defines a subset of available resource blocks for an interlace in the predefined set of interlaces; and

allocating a partial interlace to user equipment when a total number of resource blocks required for uplink transmission is less than a total number of available non-contiguous resource blocks for an interlace; and

transmitting a resource information message to each user equipment, wherein the resource information message comprises data representative of the set of resource blocks allocated to the respective user equipment.

2. The method of allocating resource blocks of claim 1, wherein when one or more full interlaces are allocated to a user equipment, allocating partial interlaces to the user equipment for any other resource blocks needed for uplink data transmission by the user equipment further comprises:

allocating a plurality of other resource blocks from a partially staggered subset of available resource blocks, wherein each resource block in the subset of available resource blocks comprises a plurality of available resource blocks that are closest to the partial stagger near a center of the frequency bandwidth.

3. The method of allocating resource blocks of claim 1, wherein when a partial interlace is allocated to user devices and a total number of resource blocks needed for uplink transmission is less than a total number of available non-contiguous resource blocks for an interlace, allocating the partial interlace further comprises:

allocating a plurality of resource blocks required for user equipment uplink transmission from a partially staggered subset of available resource blocks, wherein each resource block in the subset of available resource blocks comprises the partially staggered plurality of available resource blocks furthest from near a center of the frequency bandwidth.

4. The method of allocating resource blocks according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the subset of available resource blocks comprises two available resource blocks that are partially staggered, wherein the two available resource blocks span at least 80% of the frequency bandwidth of the unlicensed spectrum.

5. The method of allocating resource blocks according to the preceding claim 1, wherein the plurality of non-contiguous resource blocks of each interlace in a predefined set of interlaces spans at least 80% of a frequency bandwidth.

6. The method of allocating resource blocks according to the preceding claim 1, wherein the predefined sets of interlaces are allocated in a predefined order, the predefined order maximizing the output transmission power of each user equipment.

7. The method of allocating resource blocks according to the preceding claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of consecutive resource blocks are equally divided into sets of consecutive resource block groups, each group comprising the same number Nc of consecutive resource blocks, wherein a plurality of non-consecutive resource blocks defined by each predefined interlace comprises one resource block selected from the same resource block position in each resource block group, whereinThe plurality of predefined interlaces are ordered such that the first interlace provides N _T Nc non-contiguous resource block clusters, where N _T For the total number of resource blocks in the plurality of consecutive resource blocks, the second interlace, when combined with the first interlace, provides 2N _T Nc non-contiguous clusters of resource blocks, and subsequent interlaces provide 2N when combined with the previously combined interlace _T a/Nc number of non-contiguous clusters of resource blocks,

wherein the next to last predefined interlace in the ordered set of predefined interlaces, when combined with all previously combined interlaces, provides N _T Nc non-continuous resource block clusters;

wherein the last predefined interlace in the ordered set of predefined interlaces, when combined with all previously combined interlaces, provides a cluster of resource blocks; and

one or more interlaces or partial interlaces with a plurality of available resource blocks are allocated according to a predefined order.

8. The method of allocating resource blocks according to claim 1,

the plurality of consecutive resource blocks are divided into sets of consecutive resource block groups, each set in the first set of consecutive resource block groups comprising the same number Nc of consecutive resource blocks, the other resource block group comprising a second number Nc1< Nc of consecutive resource blocks, wherein the plurality of non-consecutive resource blocks defined by the Nc1 first set of predefined interlaces comprises one resource block selected from the same resource block position in each set in the first set of consecutive resource block groups and the second resource block group,

wherein the plurality of non-contiguous resource blocks defined by each of the remaining set of Nc-Nc1 predefined interlaces includes one resource block selected from the same resource block location in each of the first set of contiguous resource block groups,

wherein the plurality of predefined interlaces are ordered such that the first interlace provides floor (N) _T Nc) +1 non-contiguous resource block clusters, where N _T The second interlace, when combined with the first interlace, provides 2 × floor (N) for a total number of resource blocks in the plurality of consecutive resource blocks _T Nc) +1 or 2 floor (N) _T Nc) non-contiguous clusters of resource blocks, and the plurality of subsequent interlaces provide 2 floor (N) when combined with the plurality of previously combined interlaces _T Nc) +1 or 2 floor (N) _T /Nc) non-contiguous clusters of resource blocks,

wherein the next to last predefined interlace in the ordered set of predefined interlaces, when combined with all previously combined interlaces, provides floor (N) _T Nc) +1 non-contiguous cluster of resource blocks,

9. The method of allocating resource blocks according to any one of claims 7-8,

the resource information message includes data representing a set of resource blocks allocated to the user equipment, the data representing the set of resource blocks further including data representing an interlace index identifying a first interlace allocated to the user equipment based on the predefined order and a number of interlaces allocated to the user equipment.

10. The method of allocating resource blocks according to claim 1,

the resource information message further includes data representing an interlace index identifying one or more partial interlaces allocated to the user equipment based on the predefined order and whether the partial interlaces are the first interlace or the last interlace allocated to the user equipment.

11. The method of allocating resource blocks according to claim 1,

the resource information message of each user equipment further comprises data in the group of:

data identifying an interlace identifier of a first interlace assigned to the user equipment;

data identifying a number of interlaces assigned to the user equipment;

identifying whether a first interlace assigned to the user equipment is partially interlaced data;

data identifying whether a partial interlace other than the first interlace has been allocated to the user equipment; and

data is identified from any partially staggered resource block set allocated to the user equipment.

12. A method of transmitting uplink data from a user equipment to a base station in a telecommunications network over a frequency bandwidth of an unlicensed radio spectrum, the frequency bandwidth comprising a plurality of consecutive resource blocks spanning the frequency bandwidth, the method comprising:

transmitting a request to the base station, the request indicating data indicating the number of resource blocks required for the user equipment to transmit uplink data;

receiving a resource information message from the base station, the resource information message comprising data representative of a set of resource blocks allocated to a user equipment for transmission of uplink data, data representative of a set of resource blocks allocated based on one or more interlaces in a predefined set of interlaces having a plurality of available resource blocks that have been allocated to the user equipment by the base station for uplink transmission, each interlace in the predefined set of interlaces defining a unique plurality of non-contiguous resource blocks selected from a plurality of contiguous resource blocks;

when the number of resource blocks needed for uplink transmission is greater than or equal to the total number of non-contiguous resource blocks of the one or more interlaces, allocating a plurality of resource blocks from the plurality of contiguous resource blocks based on one or more complete interlaces in the predefined set of interlaces allocated for uplink transmission, wherein the total number of non-contiguous resource blocks for each of the one or more interlaces is available;

for any other resource blocks required for uplink data transmission by the user equipment, when the number of other resource blocks required for uplink data transmission is less than the number of available non-contiguous resource blocks for an interlace, allocating one or more other resource blocks from the plurality of contiguous resource blocks based on a partial interlace allocated to the user equipment, wherein the partial interlace defines a subset of available resource blocks for an interlace in the predefined set of interlaces; and

allocating a plurality of resource blocks from a plurality of contiguous resource blocks based on a partial interlace allocated to a user equipment when a total number of resource blocks required for uplink transmission is less than a total number of available non-contiguous resource blocks for an interlace; and

and transmitting uplink data to the base station based on the allocated plurality of resource blocks.

13. The method of transmitting uplink data according to claim 12, wherein when one or more full interlaces are allocated to a user equipment, for any other resource blocks needed for user equipment uplink data transmission, allocating one or more other resource blocks from a plurality of consecutive resource blocks based on partial interlaces further comprises:

14. The method of transmitting uplink data according to claim 12 or 13, wherein when a partial interlace is allocated to user equipments and a total number of resource blocks required for uplink transmission is less than a total number of available non-contiguous resource blocks of an interlace, allocating a plurality of resource blocks from a plurality of contiguous resource blocks based on the partial interlace further comprises:

15. The method of transmitting uplink data of claim 12, wherein the subset of available resource blocks includes two available resource blocks that are partially staggered, wherein the two available resource blocks span at least 80% of a frequency bandwidth of the unlicensed spectrum.

16. The method of transmitting uplink data of claim 12, wherein the plurality of non-contiguous resource blocks of each interlace in the predefined set of interlaces spans at least 80% of a frequency bandwidth.

17. The method of transmitting uplink data according to claim 12,

the resource information message includes data representing a set of resource blocks allocated to the user equipment, the data representing the set of resource blocks further including data representing an interlace index identifying a first interlace allocated to the user equipment based on a predefined order and a number of interlaces allocated to the user equipment.

18. The method of transmitting uplink data according to claim 12,

19. The method of transmitting uplink data according to claim 12,

data identifying a number of interlaces assigned to the user equipment;

20. A computer-readable medium comprising program code stored therein, which when executed on a processor, causes the processor to perform the method of any one of claims 1-11.

21. A computer-readable medium comprising program code stored therein, which when executed on a processor, causes the processor to perform the method of any one of claims 12-19.

22. A base station apparatus comprising a processor, a memory unit, and a communication interface, wherein the processor unit, memory unit, communication interface are configured to perform the method of any of claims 1-11.

23. A user equipment device comprising a processor, a memory unit, and a communication interface, wherein the processor unit, memory unit, communication interface are configured to perform the method of any of claims 12-19.